1st Armored Division (1AD) Rolls Through Bavaria

 IAD Rolls Through Bavaria

Dec. 2, 2002
1AD Rolls through Bavaria
1AD, 3rd COSCOM team up to convoy
Story and photos by Sgt. Gregory F. Withrow
1st Armored Division PAO
Reprinted with permission from 1ADs web page   

HOHENFELS, Germany – In a military exercise seldom seen in the past 10 years, 1st Armored Division and 3rd Corps Support Command teamed up to tactically maneuver and track 1AD''s Task Force 1-6 through the German countryside, from Grafenwoehr Training Area to Hohenfels Training Area, Thursday, Nov. 14.

Clanking and roaring in the early-morning light of Bavaria, M1A1 Abrams Tanks, Bradley Fighting Vehicles and other tracked vehicles and cargo trucks comprised the 155-vehicle convoy made up of units from 1AD''s 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

In order to enhance 2BCT''s command and control of the exercise, 1AD''s Division Support Command, Maneuver Coordination Cell joined forces with 3rd COSCOM''s Division Support Team to track and provide status reports on the convoy''s progress.

"We use several different systems to track each and every piece of equipment we have out there," explained 1st Lt. Patrick Williams, 1AD DISCOM''s movement control officer. "The progress is checked at checkpoints along the route and we use the various systems to maintain redundancy in case one of the systems goes down."

Three of the systems are standard military systems, including the use of Radio Frequency Tags (RF Tags), FM Radio Communications (FMRC) and DTRACS (Defense Tracking and Reporting Systems). If, for some reason, one of the systems is not functioning properly, the other systems can provide continuity in tracking the convoy''s progress.

Yet another, newer tracking system, provided the 1AD/3rd COSCOM team with an even greater and faster ability to track the convoy.

"The JDLM (Joint Deployment Logistics Module) provides almost real-time visibility on movements like this convoy," said Spc. Brian Wilcoxson, assigned to 3rd COSCOM''s 27 Transportation Battalion, 633rd Movement Control Team.

"This is the first time I have used the JDLM, but it is very user-friendly and easy to maintain," said Wilcoxson. "All of the information is fed through the In-transit Visibility Server which is updated via satellite uplink every 5-10 minutes."

The speed and accuracy of the JDLM, according to Wilcoxson, allows one to save a snapshot of the convoy''s progress and even obtain a grid coordinate of each vehicle''s last know position.

"With the JDLM, the brigade can focus on their command and control on the ground," explained Maj. Scot Gleason, 1AD DISCOM executive officer. "The system can interface with spot reports and provide information laterally to the brigade and division headquarters."

The Movement Control Cell for 1AD with 3rd COSCOM''s augmenting Division Support Team, work together to alleviate many of the headaches for convoy commanders, according to 1st Lt. Elise Holtan, assigned to the 633rd MCT.

"Monitoring these systems in conjunction with one another allows us to control and adjust movement, avoiding obstacles and preventing movement from bunching up," said Holtan.

"This kind of exercise is great for our unit" explained Holtan. "We would be attached to 1AD in the event of a deployment. Seeing the tanks actually moving is great, and in an exercise like this, we can see where the rubber hits the road."

Crossing a bridge over the Vils River, an M1A1 Abrams tank from 1st Armored Division''s 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, rolls through the Bavarian town of Emhof , Germany, near the end of their three-hour journey from Grafenwoehr Training Area.

An M1A1 Abrams tank from 1st Armored Division''s 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment, rolls through the Bavarian town of Emhof , Germany, near the end of their three-hour journey from Grafenwoehr Training Area.

Seldom seen in the countryside these days, a Bradley Fighting Vehicle passes by a speed-limit sign for tanks while rolling through the village of Emhof, Germany.

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